Amount. If 3 - 12 months of age, give 1 ounce (30 mL) each time. Limit to 4 times per day. If over 1 year of age, give as much as needed.

Reason: Both relax the airway and loosen up any phlegm.

Homemade Cough Medicine:

Do not give any over-the-counter cough medicine to children with wheezing. Instead, treat the cough using the these tips:

Age 3 months to 1 year: Give warm clear fluids to treat the cough. Examples are apple juice and lemonade. Amount: Use a dose of 1-3 teaspoons (5-15 mL). Give 4 times per day when coughing. Caution: Do not use honey until 1 year old.

Age 1 year and older: Use honey ½ to 1 teaspoon (2-5 mL) as needed. It works as a homemade cough medicine. It can thin the mucus and loosen the cough. If you don't have any honey, you can use corn syrup.

Nasal Saline To Open a Blocked Nose:

Your baby can't nurse or drink from a bottle if the nose is blocked. Suction alone can't remove dry or sticky mucus.

Use saline (salt water) nose drops or spray to loosen up the dried mucus. If you don't have saline, you can use a few drops of bottled water or clean tap water. If under 1 year old, use bottled water or boiled tap water.

Step 1: Put 3 drops in each nostril. (If age under 1 year old, use 1 drop).

Step 2: Suction each nostril out while closing off the other nostril. Then, do the other side.

Step 3: Repeat nose drops and suctioning until the discharge is clear.

How often: Do nasal saline when your child can't breathe through the nose. Limit: No more than 4 times per day.

Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.

Other option: use a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then suction.

Humidifier:

If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier. Reason: Dry air makes coughs worse.

Smaller Feedings:

Use small, frequent feedings whenever your child has the energy to drink.

Reason: Children with wheezing don't have enough energy for long feedings.

Offer enough fluids to prevent dehydration.

Avoid Tobacco Smoke:

Tobacco smoke makes coughs and wheezing much worse.

Don't let anyone smoke around your child.

What to Expect:

Wheezing and rapid breathing most often improve over 2 or 3 days.

Mild wheezing sounds can last up to 1 week.

Coughing may last 3 weeks.

Some children (2%) with bronchiolitis need to be in the hospital. These children need oxygen or fluids given through a vein.

Return to Child Care:

Your child can return to child care after the wheezing and fever are gone.

Call Your Doctor If:

Trouble breathing occurs

Wheezing gets worse (becomes tight)

Trouble feeding occurs

Fever lasts more than 3 days

You think your child needs to be seen

Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.